May 8, 2024
UK Property Market / Manchester
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London may have high rents and expensive drinks, but there is one thing we excel at. It appears that the capital is the best city in the UK for independent businesses, creating an environment where indie business owners can prosper – at least according to a recent study. The analysis by SumUp looked at the number of independent businesses and their average review ratings to calculate an overall score for 10 cities across the UK. London came out on top with a total score of 13.45. While we still have chain restaurants and big-name retail stores, London also boasts a significant number of independent shops, salons, cafes, barbers and more.
It’s no surprise that London is the best city for independent businesses to thrive. The capital boasts 213 beauty salons, 201 barber shops, and 166 independent coffee shops. A significant part of London’s independent business scene also includes our fantastic takeaways, with 136 across the city. Recently, Croydon, in south London, was named the beauty capital of the UK, and London was recognised as one of the world’s best cities for fashion shopping.
Maria MacDonald, owner and founder of the salon Cult London, said: “I do believe that Londoners, especially in fashion and beauty, have a highly curated taste for the services and places they frequent. Because of this, if you can get it right and manage the startup costs and overheads, London can be incredibly rewarding for small independent businesses.”
In a close second place was Bristol, with a score of 12.05, while Birmingham came in third, scoring 11.55 points.
The UK’s best cities for independent business
- London
- Bristol
- Birmingham
- Glasgow
- Leeds
- Edinburgh
- Manchester
- Sheffield
- Liverpool
- Belfast
